A young man with gambling debts is on a lucky streak after he acquires a set of cursed tattoo needles whose tattoos take on a life all their own...
"Tattoo" has a good storyline and I really enjoyed it. However, it's not without its share of big problems.
The first one is the most obvious. How exactly does a compulsive gambler learn to draw painless tattoos with such an amazing level of artistry, no less? Furthermore, who in their right mind would allow a stranger to tattoo them with no apparent prior experience when there are plenty of reputable tattoo parlors out there? When one woman sees that her tattoo is coming to life, she doesn't try to swat the spider away, she doesn't try to run, she just lays there and lets it kill her. "80's horror victim" syndrome strikes again.
Point number two: this episode is riddled with stereotypes. They're all here on display: ruthless Chinese gangsters, the wise, elderly Chinese man, the sensitive, demure Chinese woman and the centuries-old Eastern obsession with luck. As if that weren't enough, Ryan encounters a man who tries to fight him with martial arts! If Bruce Lee were still alive, he probably would have made a cameo in this episode.
The third point involves some bad plot devices that were introduced solely to delay the heroes. The one which stands out the most is that Ryan, Micki, and Jack are taken hostage by Chinese gangsters. Did they really need to do this? The other is the previously mentioned martial arts scene. Ryan shows up to ask the guy about the needles and he immediately turns hostile, accusing him of trying to steal "the secret of the luck." Not only is his reaction silly, but the line is incredibly cheesy.
There are some things that this episode has working in its favor. The cursed antique and its corresponding curse/benefit is rather unique. The special effects used to bring the tattoos to life hold up very well, the best of which involves a bloody hand bursting from a man's chest. The guest stars give an overall good performance even if they are playing stereotypes (except maybe for the martial arts guy). The sets are very well done and help to convey that East-meets-West atmosphere. The ending is justly deserved and a bit tragic at the same time.
I can see why they made "Tattoo." It has a good overall story with an intriguing concept. Just be aware that watching it requires a major suspension of disbelief, along with some relaxed views on political correctness.
"Tattoo" has a good storyline and I really enjoyed it. However, it's not without its share of big problems.
The first one is the most obvious. How exactly does a compulsive gambler learn to draw painless tattoos with such an amazing level of artistry, no less? Furthermore, who in their right mind would allow a stranger to tattoo them with no apparent prior experience when there are plenty of reputable tattoo parlors out there? When one woman sees that her tattoo is coming to life, she doesn't try to swat the spider away, she doesn't try to run, she just lays there and lets it kill her. "80's horror victim" syndrome strikes again.
Point number two: this episode is riddled with stereotypes. They're all here on display: ruthless Chinese gangsters, the wise, elderly Chinese man, the sensitive, demure Chinese woman and the centuries-old Eastern obsession with luck. As if that weren't enough, Ryan encounters a man who tries to fight him with martial arts! If Bruce Lee were still alive, he probably would have made a cameo in this episode.
The third point involves some bad plot devices that were introduced solely to delay the heroes. The one which stands out the most is that Ryan, Micki, and Jack are taken hostage by Chinese gangsters. Did they really need to do this? The other is the previously mentioned martial arts scene. Ryan shows up to ask the guy about the needles and he immediately turns hostile, accusing him of trying to steal "the secret of the luck." Not only is his reaction silly, but the line is incredibly cheesy.
There are some things that this episode has working in its favor. The cursed antique and its corresponding curse/benefit is rather unique. The special effects used to bring the tattoos to life hold up very well, the best of which involves a bloody hand bursting from a man's chest. The guest stars give an overall good performance even if they are playing stereotypes (except maybe for the martial arts guy). The sets are very well done and help to convey that East-meets-West atmosphere. The ending is justly deserved and a bit tragic at the same time.
I can see why they made "Tattoo." It has a good overall story with an intriguing concept. Just be aware that watching it requires a major suspension of disbelief, along with some relaxed views on political correctness.
